1. Why it is difficult to assess the success of Hitler's Foreign policy and planning?
It is difficult because he wasn't precise enough about what his main aim was. For example, he never say precisely how big the Reich would be nor how far eastern lebensraum would stretch. He also never explained precisely in what order, at what time or by what method he intended to achieve his aims.
2. What do you think AJP Taylor meant when he argued that Hitler was a "man of daring improvisations; he made lightening decisions and then presented them as the result of long-term policy".
AJP Taylor argued that Hitler never had plans for his decisions. Instead, he made quick decisions, where took the chance and gambled on the consequences of his actions. Once his decision become a success he claimed that it was planned before and it was a result of his long-term policies.
3. How did Hitler justify the reoccupation of the Rhineland?
France -USSR made a small agreement, where it had broke a terms of Locarno treaties. Hitler had used this as a excuse to break the terms of treaty of Versailles by sending troops to Rhineland. Besides, the Rhineland was their land in the first place.
4. What was the international significance of the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936?
It was the first of a number of steps that led inevitably to the war. It also proved how "soft" Britain and France were, giving him confidence to do it over and over again.
5. What are the assets that Hitler's gained through victory in the Rhineland?
he had undertake the operation against the advice of his generals, thereby giving him prestige and encouraging him to overrule them again.
he was able to demonstrate the "softness" of Britain and France: an exercise that would also be repeated.
It enabled him to order the construction of Siegfried line on Germany's western frontier.
6. What do you think is meant by the statement that "Britain and France sought to lock the stable door in 1937"? Were there methods successful?
They recognized the danger of Hitler. Therefore, they began to strengthen themselves and their allies. The quote means France & Britain want to lock off the stable by strength themselves before the horse “Germany” would run away.
Short film on appeasement (The World At War)
7. What was "appeasement"?
The policy of accepting and rectifying genuine Germany's grievances.
8. What reasons can be given to explain why the policy had so many supporters?
· Stop the memory of 1WW to happen again.
· They felt they have been treated Germany very harshly, even unfairly when they had the Versailles treaty.
· To stop the influence of USSR on the Eastern Europe.
9. Why should we be careful about being too critical of the policy of appeasement even though it failed to prevent the outbreak of war?
Appeasement shouldn't be so harshly criticized because:
-- It was unknown at the time that Hitler wouldn't follow his word
-- Today we have the advantage of hindsight
-- Throughout the 1930s Hitler had made himself otu to be a "reasonable statesman" (a fact that the West took as a reality)
-- It is also to be noted that the West also followed other policies in addition to appeasement, of these included rearmament (in theory this was intended to prepare for some kind of possible conflict). Hitler was however quick to point out this contradiction, whereby the West was both advocating appeasement and rearmament (hypocritical, as he was too).
--Appeasement came from the empathy and fear of the West. Empathy for the way the Germans had been made to suffer since 1919, and fear of another war, with the memory of WW1 so close in the past.
SIR W. CHURCHILL ON APPEASEMENT (not to be confused with the equally wise words of Sir P. Churchill)
ON APPEASEMENT:
"An appeaser is one who feeds the crocodile hoping it will eat him last."
"When nations are strong, they are not always just and when they wish to be just, they are no longer strong."
"Victory will never be found by taking the line of least resistance."
"I never worry about action, but only about inaction."
ON NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN:
"He was given a choice between war and dishonor. He chose dishonor and he will have war anyway."
1. Why it is difficult to assess the success of Hitler's Foreign policy and planning?
It is difficult because he wasn't precise enough about what his main aim was. For example, he never say precisely how big the Reich would be nor how far eastern lebensraum would stretch. He also never explained precisely in what order, at what time or by what method he intended to achieve his aims.2. What do you think AJP Taylor meant when he argued that Hitler was a "man of daring improvisations; he made lightening decisions and then presented them as the result of long-term policy".
AJP Taylor argued that Hitler never had plans for his decisions. Instead, he made quick decisions, where took the chance and gambled on the consequences of his actions. Once his decision become a success he claimed that it was planned before and it was a result of his long-term policies.3. How did Hitler justify the reoccupation of the Rhineland?
France -USSR made a small agreement, where it had broke a terms of Locarno treaties. Hitler had used this as a excuse to break the terms of treaty of Versailles by sending troops to Rhineland. Besides, the Rhineland was their land in the first place.4. What was the international significance of the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936?
It was the first of a number of steps that led inevitably to the war. It also proved how "soft" Britain and France were, giving him confidence to do it over and over again.5. What are the assets that Hitler's gained through victory in the Rhineland?
6. What do you think is meant by the statement that "Britain and France sought to lock the stable door in 1937"? Were there methods successful?
They recognized the danger of Hitler. Therefore, they began to strengthen themselves and their allies. The quote means France & Britain want to lock off the stable by strength themselves before the horse “Germany” would run away.Short film on appeasement (The World At War)
7. What was "appeasement"?
The policy of accepting and rectifying genuine Germany's grievances.8. What reasons can be given to explain why the policy had so many supporters?
· Stop the memory of 1WW to happen again.· They felt they have been treated Germany very harshly, even unfairly when they had the Versailles treaty.
· To stop the influence of USSR on the Eastern Europe.
9. Why should we be careful about being too critical of the policy of appeasement even though it failed to prevent the outbreak of war?
Appeasement shouldn't be so harshly criticized because:-- It was unknown at the time that Hitler wouldn't follow his word
-- Today we have the advantage of hindsight
-- Throughout the 1930s Hitler had made himself otu to be a "reasonable statesman" (a fact that the West took as a reality)
-- It is also to be noted that the West also followed other policies in addition to appeasement, of these included rearmament (in theory this was intended to prepare for some kind of possible conflict). Hitler was however quick to point out this contradiction, whereby the West was both advocating appeasement and rearmament (hypocritical, as he was too).
--Appeasement came from the empathy and fear of the West. Empathy for the way the Germans had been made to suffer since 1919, and fear of another war, with the memory of WW1 so close in the past.
SIR W. CHURCHILL ON APPEASEMENT (not to be confused with the equally wise words of Sir P. Churchill)
ON APPEASEMENT:
"An appeaser is one who feeds the crocodile hoping it will eat him last.""When nations are strong, they are not always just and when they wish to be just, they are no longer strong."
"Victory will never be found by taking the line of least resistance."
"I never worry about action, but only about inaction."
ON NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN:
"He was given a choice between war and dishonor. He chose dishonor and he will have war anyway."